SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
23 March 2009
First Lady Grace Mugabe will escape prosecution from charges that she assaulted a British photographer in Hong Kong, after she was granted diplomatic immunity. In January Grace flew into a rage after Richard Jones took pictures of her as she left the five-star Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel, with a female friend and a bodyguard.
The bodyguard pinned the photographer to the ground while the first lady struck him repeatedly in the face. A diamond encrusted ring she was wearing caused cuts to his face. But on Sunday authorities in Hong Kong confirmed long held fears that Grace was entitled to diplomatic immunity, as the wife of a sitting head of state.
The photographer reacted furiously to the decision saying; 'I think it's a disgrace for the Hong Kong government to allow a person to walk on a street in Hong Kong, punch a member of the media, and walk free from it. This is a town where the freedom of the media is a strong tradition,' he told the AFP news agency. Michael Vidler, the lawyer representing Jones, said they had secured CCTV footage and statements from witnesses, which was enough to provide strong evidence against Grace in court. They also felt the lacerations to Jones face were serious enough to warrant a charge of 'wounding' rather than the more minor 'common assault' charge.
Although Hong Kong is a self governing territory, matters relating to defence and foreign affairs are controlled by China. In this case Hong Kong's Department of Justice issued a statement saying: 'Grace Mugabe is not liable to arrest or detention, and enjoys immunity from prosecution,' and that these rights fall under Chinese regulations on diplomatic immunity and privileges. However Michael Sheridan, who is the Far East correspondent for the Sunday Times newspaper, said 'diplomatic immunity should not be a shield for unacceptable and illegal behaviour.'
While over half the country faces starvation, Grace has been accused of regularly raiding the Reserve Bank for hundreds of thousands of United States dollars to fund her lavish shopping trips abroad. The Mugabe's were also reported to have bought an expensive mansion in Hong Kong, although they denied this. Their daughter Bona Mugabe is also alleged to be attending a university in Hong Kong, despite denials from the Universities there. She is thought to be studying under a false name.
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If i was Richard Jones, I would take this matter to the hague.
Or launch a private lawsuit against her sue her behind for all those US Dollars she hordes for her foreign jaunts! What an embarrassment. I cant ever recall a head of state or his wife..sorry, mistress, having to answer charges of assaulting a newspaper photographer before. But, pays to have friends in high places...how else could she have managed to escape this one?
Oh my Zama Zulu you just loose the plot like a toddler learning how to use the loo. Like it or not Grace is First lady of zimbabwe. Stomach it or vomit it, its the way it is. Learn to accept the frustrating truth for you maybe
A first lady that punches reporters? Geez. Great example for the country. She should be ashamed of herself.
Those kind of women like DISGRACE are never ashamed of their actions!! I have read that uncle bob drew 92 000 from his account to fund the trip and now he is putting out his begging bowl for more!!!
thats FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AFRICA DISGRACE CAN CROSS THE WATERS and attack people but noone on the continent DARE UTTER ANYTHING ABOUT THE ELITE SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!!!
The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations clearly states that diplomats are protected against persecution or prosecution while on a diplomatic mission. Bobojaan was in no way on a diplomatic mission. His stupid wife and he were on a holiday splurging on the US 92,000 dollars from Harare's Central Bank as N/a rightly said and of course purchasing that millions of dollar home for Bona stolen from Zimbabwe. What ever qualifies Mugabe's wife as a diplomat, does not grant her immunity from being a persona non grata in Hong Kong. The lawmakers and human rights activists there want Grace banned from Hong Kong because there is ample evidence that she attacked the journalist and right in front of witnesses. They too don't see why she should be given immunity. Mugabe is wicked right from his head to his tail Grace. I hope that British journalist goes after Grace with everything he's got.
Oh my, does this mean that dis-Grace is a diplomat, gives her free reign to assault anyone she wants any where and any how. When was dis-Grace made a diplomat, what are her credentials? I'm waiting for the verbal diaoreah from Kube ton and Takiometre on this one, should be very amusing to say the least.